After 88 days of horror, how Jayme Closs and her small town of Barron can heal

After her parents were brutally murdered and she was kidnapped for 88 days, 13 year old Jayme Closs escaped. Barron County police are praising her for helping lead them to arrest the single suspect.
USA TODAY

After the murder of her parents, 88 days in captivity and an escape that drew the attention of the nation, how does a 13-year-old begin to heal? And how does a small town like Barron recover?

Those questions have drawn experts and resources from around the country to the city of fewer than 4,000 people in northwest Wisconsin since Jayme Closs went missing three months ago.

For 88 days, the community has worked to remain optimistic that despite long odds Jayme would come home. Students and teachers wore their green ribbons to school, lit up a tree of hope, snuggled with therapy dogs and threw concerts.

Her sudden escape Thursday afternoon brought a flood of joy and validation. Despite the harrowing details sure to come, those around her are resolute.

“I’m told that the kiddo woke up smiling,” said Diane Tremblay, superintendent of Barron Area School District, who met with Jayme’s family Saturday morning.

“None of us really said anything but how happy we are,” Tremblay said. “We were all talking about the courage Jayme showed everyone and the impact she’s had on the nation.”

Of course, Tremblay knows there will be hard work ahead. She’s changed her mind about the outsiders who’ve visited Barron, who’ve called and emailed with advice. At first, it seemed intrusive. She’d done the training and knew how to handle crises.

“I was a little uncomfortable with it,” Tremblay said. “I felt like we really have our ducks in a row with crisis. But once I realized there’s no manual for this type of crisis, I dropped that mama bear thing and said OK, let’s let these people take a look at what’s going on.”

Michele Gay, who lost her daughter in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, has helped the Barron Area School District respond to Jayme Closs' kidnapping.(Photo: Submitted)

One of those people was Michele Gay. She lost her 7-year-old daughter, Josephine, six years ago in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. An organization she co-founded, Safe and Sound Schools, helps districts prepare for and respond to crises.

"One of the things we know all too well is it’s very difficult to think clearly and attend to the important details mid-crisis," Gay said. "It's incredibly helpful to have some clear heads, fresh eyes and trusted relationships."

When Jayme went missing, Safe and Sound Schools tapped its network to assemble a team of six experts from around the country to advise the district. One of the first recommendations was to bring in dogs from the Wausau Police Department to provide therapeutic cuddles for students.

"There's tremendous value in that," Tremblay said. "I wouldn’t have thought of that. It wasn’t in the toolbox."

The members of the team, whose identities are confidential, include three school psychologists and three educators. They've driven to Barron and helped advise from afar with their own experience responding to tragedies. The organization is seeking grant funding to cover travel expenses for the group to continue helping.

"It's a great honor to put some of our pain toward a positive future," Gay said. "We’re here for Jayme, her family and community for the long haul."

It's too soon to say whether or when Jayme will return to Riverview Middle School. But Tremblay wants to be ready for it — "if we are lucky enough to have that child in the hallways," she said.

"She’s a loyal friend, a sweetheart to have in the classroom, the kid every teacher wants in the front row," Tremblay said.

Tremblay said staff will move at whatever pace Jayme and her caregivers decide is best. If she does return to school, she would be free to have a flexible schedule with plenty of opportunities for breaks.

"Our job is to be prepared to be responsive to anything she needs," Tremblay said. "And we’re not going to be too proud to reach out for help.”

For Jayme, experts say the first step will be finding a new sense of normalcy, routine and security with the help of family. Supporters have set up a fundraising page to help them.

"This is as horrific a trauma as any child could experience," said Dimitri Topitzes, who teaches trauma counseling at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Topitzes said it will be important for Jayme to have time with family who can "shower her with affection, love and safety."

"It'll take time and lot of effort but there’s no reason for despondency over her future," Topitzes said. "We all have very strong and innate tendencies for resilience."

Adrianne Walschinski, who oversees outpatient mental health services at SaintA, agreed. She said safe relationships are the most vital component of healing from trauma. Their predictability can help her overcome the hypervigilance she may be feeling. SaintA is a Milwaukee-based organization that provides social and behavioral health services.

After a traumatic experience, Walschinski said it's common for victims to be on high alert, to have trouble eating and sleeping regularly and to be triggered by certain scents or sounds that remind them of the event. Walschinski said alternative forms of therapy can be especially helpful for some survivors. Activities like petting animals, riding horses or painting pictures in therapeutic settings can help regulate mental well-being.

"Different brush strokes or materials can be regulating to us from a sensory perspective," Walschinski said. "Same thing with petting an animal — we're using a rhythm to pet them and they’re breathing and we’re responding to their calm breathing."

Walschinski said it will be a challenge to find a balance between making sure Jayme has the extra support she needs while also allowing her to feel normal.

"Thinking about all the intimate details that will be shared, that’s so hard for a 13-year-old," Walschinski said. "There’s going to come a time where she’ll want to be a typical teen and not be treated differently than other teens."

Tremblay is already thinking about how to prepare students for greeting Jayme in a way that isn't overwhelming.

"We don’t want the kids uncomfortable," Tremblay said. "We’ll have to talk about what to ask, what not to ask. And continue to keep our pulse on the kids.”

Tremblay wants to do everything at Jayme's pace. But Tremblay is clearly excited to celebrate, already dreaming up ideas for a community event in Jayme's honor.

"She’s a hero," Tremblay said. "The mission of our district is for kids to reach their dreams and make a positive impact and this kid has made a positive impact on the world already. We've been talking about hope, love and prayers for 88 days.

"What next, Jayme? What else would the kid ever have to conquer more challenging than what she just did? We’re so happy she’s home.”